Hydro extractor



SQMMM 1,766,310

HYDRO EXTRACTOR Fil-ed March 2S), 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet l lei'cizer Schaum,E

F. scHAuM 1,766,310

HYDRO EXTRACTQR jun@ 24, E930.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 29, 1928 Ele'c er Schaf, um, E /L/ June 24, 1930.,l F. scHAUM 1,766,310

HYDRO EXTRACTOR Filed March 29, 192B 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 5

June24,193o. RSCHAUM 1,766,310

HYDRO EXTRACTOR Filed March 29. 192s 4 sheets-sheet 4 ID N - m ln/ventola:

Ele'lcher .Schu um www Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT l-ol-r-nsll#i I s FLETCHER SCHUM, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR To FLETCHER WORKS, F PHILDmHI, PENNSYLVANIA, A. CORPORATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA HYDRO EXTRACTOR application ma narch'es, -192s. semina. 265,761..

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in extractora of the large capacity type to handle heavy bags, nets, bulk work, yarn, etc., andwherein the balancing arrangement, that is, the three-point suspension of the guard, the supporting shaft fixedly mounted in the guard, and a freely mounted basket on the shaft, increases the balancing action and enables the machine to handle unbalanced loads without calling for any adjustment. Another object .of the invention' is to produce an .extractor that may be quickly and easily started, and also qulckly and readily sto pod, and wherein the starting, coasting an stopping operations are controlled from a single source,-the brake lever, which has three positions.

Still another object of the invention is to so arrange the extractor and its control that in the first or running position, the brake is olf and the power 1s on. In the second or coasting position, both the brake and the power are o while in the third or stopping psition, the brake is on and the power is Still another object of the invention is to roduce a hydro-extractor with a special orm of brake such asa to gle brake, where- 30 in the same will i tbe pulley evenly from both sides andTtbei-eby eliminate any strain on the bearin s and due to the great leverage the loaded askets may be stopped within lifteen seconds.

5 It is to be remembered that some of these extractors weigh 3,800' pounds, and the` baskets are 48 inches in diameter, and when traveling at 750 R. P. M., exert a tremendous centrifugal force.

lStill another object of the invention is to pl'ividef .a brake that may be quickly removedff'or relining, and replaced without takin the machineapart in any way.

Still another object ofthe invention is to provide an extractor wherein the cover is interlocked and cannot be raised until the basket comes to a full stop nor can the machine be started until the cover is closed.

Still another object of the invention is to 5 provide a hydro-extractor wherein the Opf' erator can easily unload the basket because d H the same is very close to the curb, yet due to the fixed top and bottom bearings, it can never strike the latter. v

Still another object of the invention isto produce an extractor wherein the swivel. Y

joint arrangement in the basket increases the balancing action and enables the machine `to accommodate a more unbalancing load shaft, that is, the support for the basket, is x rigidly mounted with respect to the vbase o the guard, in which guard, of course, the shaft and basket rotate. Also, the guard is to be mounted or suspended from three oints by ball and socket v hangers, there being disposed springs on thev hangers which may be adjusted so that the frictional contacts, together with `the weight of the machine, will hold the vibration or rocking of the 'guard and minimum. e

Still another object of the invention 1s provide a hydro-extractor wherein the entire machine is supported at three dilerent points, and the machine so hung that the central shaft or. support may be connected by a. belt to a motor, which motor is mount-4 ed on the guard so that there will be no difference in the torqlllle regardless of the lateral movement of t e uard and basket.

Still another object of t e invention 1s to Aprovide a hydro-extractor suspended from three points so that the weight of the .machine will tend to overcome any gyrations that might otherwise be present in the extractor, that is, gyrations of the central 'shaft and guard.

The basket is preferably freely lmounted asket the its basket and shaft to a to .Y

on the shaft so that the same may occupy, if necessary, a plane other than the horizontal.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a hydro-extractor wherein the basket is mounted freely but the shaft and guard are so arranged that there may be a slight lateral movement of the guard and shaft so that the vibrations in turn may be taken u in the three ypoints of support, rather t an being transmitted directly to the floor on which the material is mounted.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in certain new and novel arrangements and combination of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

Referring now to the drawings showing a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the extractor showing one of the supporting legs, and vertical type motor being shown in elevation, the pulley of the latter being shown in section. I

Figure 2 is a top plan View showing the cover in closed position.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the control lever connected to the brake and the dotted lines showing one of the controlling switches.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section showing the arrangement of the toggle joint, and

Figure 5 is a Wiring diagram showing the manner in which the controls and motor for the h dro-extractor are operated.

Re erring now more specifically to Figs.

1 and 2, there Will be seen three metal supporting legs 1, and as they are alike, a description of one will be a description of all. The metal leg may be a casting and comprise a base or foot 2 which will be bolted on a Wooden block 3, or any other block, so that the lowermost point of the machine will be slightly above the floor 4. The top portion 5 of the leg is provided with a socket 6 through which extends the small openings 7, so that a threaded rod or hanger 8 may be inserted therethrough, which rod 8 is to be provided with a ball 9 at its upper end to fit within the socket 6. y

There may be a little cover 10 and felt Wick 11 over the top of the ball, so that this frictional point may be oiled and kept free from dust.

Still referring to Fig. 1, and to the support in question, there will be seen two springs on this rod 8, the upper spring 12 being held in place by the nut 13, and the lower spring 14 being held in place and adjustable by the nut 15.

On the lower end of the hanger on the rod 8, there will be seen in position, another ball 16.or a portion of one, designed to fit tightly Within a socket 17 in a leg 18 of the base plate 19 of the guard 20.

There is also the opening 21 extending to the socket 17 so that the aforementioned rod 8 may pass down into the same.

As mentioned heretofore, there are three of the legs or supports which engage and cooperate with the three feet or lugs 18 disposed in certain spaced relation about the base plate of the guard.

As far as the specification has proceeded,

yit will be seen that the guard is suspended so that the same is capable of a slight lateral motion or vibratory movement in a horizontal plane, which motion will be transmitted to the hangers, and mostly absorbed rather than being transmitted to the floor on which the guard is mounted.

By having the adjustable springs on the hangers, the guard, through the connection of the feet, may be forced downwardly tightly in position, which, together with the Weight vof the machine, will prevent any rocking or tipping motion of the guard. In other Words, when the basket about to be described, rotates in a high rate of speed in the guard, there would be a'tendency to have the guard rock or tilt unless spring pressure is exerted to tightly hold the guard on the hangers. However, duesto the frictional contact of the balls and the respective sockets, plus the weight of the machine and the spring pressure, the guard will move laterally or may possibly be shifted slight ly about its three points of suspension, but Will not rock or tilt to any appreciable degree, and as far as'can be seen, Will always be sustained in a horizontal plane. l

Furthermore, there is a motor 22 adjustable longitudinally on the bracket 23, Which bracket is secured to the side of the guard, the adjusting movement being regulated by the bolt 24, so that should it be necessary to tighten the belt 25, attached to the pulley 26 en the main support or shaft 27, this may be done, and the machine balanced by tightening the spring on the leg opposite the motor.

By mounting the motor on the guard, the guard may move laterally or shift its position Without in any Way disturbing the torque of the shaft 27.

rIhe explanation of the manner of support and the shaft 27 is set out rather fully, but it is of great importance as, unless the machine is properly supported and proper springs provided, and unless the drive shaft in turn is properly supported Within the guard, the machine would vibrate or rock due to the centrifugal force of the rotating basket.

Understanding now, therefore, how the machine is mounted or suspended, a more specific description will follow of the shaft, guard and basket, control and brake.

Referring to Fig. 14 in particular, there will be seen centrally of the bottom or gu-ard plate 19a cent-ral opening 28 in which there is mounted a casting( 29, in turn held in position in vthe opening 28 by the bolts 30 which extend through holes 3l of the casting, and holes 32 in the rim about the opening 28.

Near the bottom of the casting is the ball race 33, in vturn fitting on the thrust bearing 34 while a wick 35 may be seen at the lower end of the casting. The casting 29 is a hollow one and is adapted to receive the main shaft 27, which shaft may be tapered at its lower end as at 36 to receive the hub of the belt pulley 26, which pulley in turn is locked on by the nut 37.

It might be mentioned at this point that the. pulley 26 is in the form of a double pulley, so that there may be placed about the rim 38 a brake 39 with the brake 1ining 40, which brake will be shortly described.

About the shaft 27, there may be seen the collar or tube 41, in turn extending up to the ball race 42, While a small cover 43 may be seen at the top of the casting. Fixed near the upper end of the shaft 27 is the large metal ball or portion of one 44, while extending through this ball is the small cross shaft 45 in turn held in position by the key 46, the shaft or stub extending slightly beyond the outer circumference of the said ball.

The upper end of the shaft is drilled as at 47 so that oil or grease may be fed tothe ball bearing 42 and in turn drop down on the bearing 33. When the motor, therefore, is started, the shaft 27 and its ball and stub shaft may be rotated to in turn rotate the backet 48, now to be described.

Basket As may be seen in Fig. 1, this basket 48 comprises a bottom plate 49, with the upstanding iianges 50 about its peripheral edge to which in turn is riveted the side wall 5l in turn provided with a plurality of holes or perforations 52.

To strengthen this basket, metal rings 53 are placed around the side wall,'and I have 6l to which the bottom plate is securely riveted, there, of course, being an opening in the. bottom plate to receive the casting.

'I he internal diameter of this casting is greater than the external diameter of the previously mentioned casting 29, so that the basket is free-to tilt from the vertical-tol a slight degree. The upper inner surface of this casting is in the form of a socket 62 to nicely o-r snugly lit the aforementioned ball 44. At the base of the socket there are two small cut out portions opposite the ends of the shaft 45, so that the said ends may fit within the cut out portion and bear against the adjacent walls of this cut out portion, so that a rotation of the shaft 27 and the cross shaft will in turn transmit rotation to the basket.

From this it will be seen that the basket is what is known as'freely mounted, or in other Words,-may tilt or rock slightly in any direction with relation to its shaft or support.

rThe dome ofthe casting has a passageway therein, so that the upper end of the shaft 27 may extend therethrough and into the small housing or cover 63.

Referring now for the moment to the guard 20, in which is rotated the basket 48, it will be seen that it comprises the base 19 and the casting 29, and also comprises the outer wall 64, riveted at its lower edge by the rivets 65, the base plate having the flanges 66, while at the upper ends of the side wall 64 is the large rim 67, Welded or otherwise fastened to the said side wall.

Of coursethere is an outlet for the water that is extracted from the material in the basket, and in Fig. 3 I have shown the outlet A to which may be bolted a discharge pipe (not shown).A Although I have not shown the specific construction of the outlet A, it will be understood that there is generally a small trough built in the bottom of A the guard so that the water' will flow into this trough and through the outlet A.

Referring for the moment to Fig. 2, there will be seen a cover 68 hinged as at 69, and a handle 70, so that when the clothes are to be inserted or removed from the basket, this coverl may be thrown back.

' I have provided a little safety device for always holding the cover in position when the basket is. rotating, by placing a small channel iron 70 centrally of the'cover, and to cooperate with this small hook 7l (see Fig. l) is pivoted thesmall housing 63. -I'Vhen the machine, that is,the basket, is rotating, the centrifugal force will cause the hook 71 to attain the:I position as shown, the jaws ot the hook extending over the edge of the angle 70. However,- when the centrifugal Vaction ceases, the hook 71 will fall downwardly and become disengaged from the channel and permitthe opening of the cover.

I provide this as it is dangerous to try and remove anything from the basket evenl though the same is rotating, at a low rate of speed, it having caused operators at different times to have their arms torn from the shoulder.

Brake ww'cham'am Referring now to the braking mechanism 39, and referring to Figs. 1, 3 and 4 in particular, it will be seen that the brake consists of two arms 39 pivoted at their one end as at 72, these arms being bowed in the center as at 73 to encircle or encom ass the pulley 38 heretofore referred to, w ile a brake lining 40 is carried on each bowed ortion of the arms as may be clearly seen 1n Fig. 4. The outer ends of these arms 39 are connected b bolts .and links 75 to an operating lever 6, pivoted as at 77, so that when the handle 76 is thrown to the right (Fig. 3), it will tightl pull these arms toward each other to t us tightly gri the 'brake band 40 about the pulley, 38 an thus slow down or stop the machine.

When the lever 76 is in theV osition shown in Fi 3, the outer ends of t e brake arms are slightly forced apart, thus removing the tension about the pulley connected to the loner end of he shaft 27.

Y using t is tovgle arrangement eat forcef can be applied to the brake, wliigli of course is necessary, as itis to be remembered in the large size the rotating basket weighs approximately 1,700 pounds, and revolves at about 750 R. P. M.

There is another advantage .of having the brake formed in the manner just described,

and that is, it will be noticed that it is not necessary to remove the basket or the central shaft when desired to reline the brake, which has to be done more or less frequently.

Tn the present instance, all that is necessar is to release the pin 72 and remove the lin s and bolts 75 at the outer ends of the arms 39.

In this manner, the arms 39 may then be spread apart and pulled from beneath the machine, a new brake lining placed in position and the brake again assembled.

I Controls As reviously mentioned in the application, t e starting, coasting and stopping operation kare controlled from a single source, that is, after the current is once turned on. As also heretofore mentioned, in the first or running position, the brake is oif'and the ower is on, and the cover must be closed efore the machine will start, as will be shortly described. In the second, or cot'sting position, both brake and power are off; while in the third or stopping position, the brake is on and the power is off. This is accomplished by an electrical wiring system and switches and relays, which are diagrammatically shown -in Fig. 5, in cooperation with the handle 76, heretofore mentioned.

Referring to Fig. 3 for the moment, there will be seen a. cable 80, that is, the insulation or cover for the cable, extending through a switch 81 on the machine or connectedor positioned on a wall or other convenient place.-

Still referringto Fig. 3, there may be seen in dotted lines, a small switch 82 in its closed position when the lever 76 is thrown to its extreme limit to the left, so that the circuit Referring for the moment to Fig. 1, there Y will be seen a small switch box containing the top cover switch 83, so that when the cover is open, the circuit throu h A and Bf will be broken, and the machine cannoty be started even though the timing switch be thrown on or the switch 82 be in operative position, thus makin it impossible to start the rotation of the basket when the cover is in its o en position.

It will e seen that the line A runs to a magnetic contact or solenoid C from which a lead extends over to one power line P. There isalso a connection at the point X from which there is a lead to a reen light G to show an o erator whether t e machine is runnin ori le.

From t e green light G extends a lead H so .that when the shaft C' of the solenoid is pulled inwardly, the switch arm H will\ contact with the other cwer line P. At the same time the power ine P will be closed throu h the small arm H, so that the motor ma energized and the center shaft 27 an the basket be set in motion.

If, however, the timing switch 81 is turned to its off position, that is, just opposite from the position shown in Fig. 5, and the small switch arm thrown to an upper position, it will be seen that the circuit is broken through A and B, but a lead Y will be closed or thrown into circuit with the lead B, the current passing through Y up through the red light R, and over to the power line P. v A small knife-switch or other-form of switch may be placed in the main power line so that of course the current may be entirely cut ofi` from the machine, in order that the red light R will not operate when the machine is standing'idle at night, or not in service.

it will be seen that there is a timing ciru cuit for the motor and that there is really an operating circuit for ener izing the motor by the different control set orth.

Rsum .l V From the foregoing, the operation 0f the machine will be readily understood, as the machine is very simple to operate. The

control handle 76, when manipulated, willy either start or stop the machine or allow the same to coast.

As in all rotating bodies, there is what is knownas the critical point, and after the machine is first started the basket may rock or tilt slightly, that is when traveling around 300 or 400 R. P. M., but when this point is passed, the rotation of the basket is very smooth.

By providing springs and adjusting them, so that the front spring exerts about 80() pounds pressure, and the two back springs 650 pounds pressure; or in other Words, adjusting the supporting spring to oiset the difference in weight on the three lugs, dueI to the overhang of the motor at the back, it is possible to handle a very great unbalanced load in the basket.

Furthermore, by using three balancing or supporting posts which are vertical and therefore parallel with each other and parallel with the extractor shaft, anyuoscillation would raise the whole machine parallel to its normal position.

The machine described should not be run above a normal speed of say 750 R. P. M., as at a higher rate, it will jump, or tend to ound.

It will be noticed that the basket has the ball center practically at the center of the basket, and does not have the weight concentrated.A As the centers nearly coincide, an unbalance weight may move the basket-axis away from the vertical, and the small restoring force will not overcome the friction of the supporting ball and socket touring it back to Vertical. However, the basket will operate just as well even though it revolves in a plane slightly from the horizontal.

It will also be noticed that the shaft always remains parallel to its normal position and that the weight of practically the entire machine, plus the friction caused by the springs, tends to hold the machine from any rocking or jarring action, and at the same time allows a slight lateral action which is absorbed by the supports rather than being transmitted to the floor.

As before stated, the normal speed is about 750 R. P. M. and at this rate, the water will be quickly extracted from the material in the basket, and at the samev time, themachine will run quietly and smoothly Vand with but relatively little lateral movement considering the mass that is rotated and the rate of rotation.

I am aware that it is old to provide extractors to carry unbalanced loads designed to travel at a Very high rate of speed, and wherein the basket and its shaft are designed for free gyration, .but it will be seen and understood that with my device, the entire weight of the machine is so suslpended as to prevent free gyration. Also,

eavy springs between the frictional contacts are used to overcome and restrict, as far as possible, any gyratory movement of the guard and its rotating shaft. l

Many slight changes may be made without inl any way departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let-- ters Patent is l. A hydro extractor comprising a guard, said guard having a base, central casting, side walls and a top, a rotatable shaft fixedly mounted on said guard, a basket comprising a bottom, side walls and upper rim and a central casting within'the bottom and the greater diameter of the casting being less in diameter than the greatest diameter of the casting of the guard, said basket freely mounted on said shaft, pinand groove means in the basket and said shaft for interlocking one with the other and means mounted on the guard for rotating said shaft and basket. l

2. An extractor comprisin a guard, pivotally supported hangers or supporting same, a vertically mounted shaft on said guard, ja 'casting freely mounted on said shaft, a basket provided with an opening 1n its.bottom and the said casting fitting up within the opening and supporting the 'l basket pin and groove means interlocking the basket and` said shaft, the diameter of the opening being less than one-third..of the diameter of the bottom of the basket, actuating means mounted on the guard for the shaft to thereby rotate said basket.

3. A hydro extractor comprising a guard, means for suspending the guard, a rotating shaft fixedly mounted in the guard, said shaft having a ball on its upper end, a cross bar in said ball, a revolvable basket having a relatively small central casting with a socket in its upper end, said socket provided with grooves to receive the ends of said cross bar whereby the shaft will revolve the basket and permit the basket to tilt within the guard, and spring means on the supporting means for holding the guard tightlg down on said supporting means.

means for pivotally suspending the guard, spring means on said suspending means for forcing the guard downwardly on the suspending means, said spring means being capable of adjustment, a rotatable shaft mounted in the guard and always remaining at right angles to the bottom of the guard, a ball mounted on said shaft, a basket provided with a small central casting in its bottom and having a socket formed at the top of the casting, and provided with verti* cal grooves, a cross bar in said ball and fitting within said grooves in the upper end of the socket, whereby when said shaft is revolved the basket may revolve and tilt within the guard.

5. A hydro extractor comprising a suspended guard, a rotatable shaft ixedly mounted in said guard and movable therewith, a freely mounted basket on said shaft, the shaft having a pin and the basket provided with cooperating grooves whereby the driving moment may be transferred from the shaft to the basket, driving means on the side of said guard and at the bottom thereof for rotating said shaft, means for adjusting thedriving means inwardly and outwardly and adjustable means on the suspending means for counter balancing the weight of the driving means, and holding the guard against tilting movement.

6. YA hydro` extractor comprising a guard, a cover for the same, a central casting within said guard and a shaft mounted in said casting, a basket having a central casting therein and the said casting having a socket formed in its upper end provided with grooves, a ball mounted on said shaft and fitting within said socket, a cross bar in the ball and its ends extending within said grooves, means on the guard for driving the shaft to thereby rotate said basket, brake means for said shaft, means for supporting the guard and centrifu ally o erated means connected with the bas et an cover whereby the cover is held against opening when the basket is revolving.

7. A hydro extractor having a cover thereon, a shaft forming a part of the extractor, a basket mounted on said shaft, a finger carried by said shaft, and locking said cover when thrown by centrifugal force into cooperation with said cover,and the said finger dropping out of locking engagement when said shaft is idle.

8. A hydro extractor comprising a guard', a casting mounted centrally within the guard, a rotatable shaft mounted within said casting a ball secured to the u per end of the shaft: a pin extending beyonl the opposite surfaces of the ball, a basket havin a dome-shaped casting centrally thereo hydro extractor comprising a guard,l

and supported by said. ball, said domeshaped casting having grooves with which said cross pin cooperates for driving said basket, and a three point adjustable suspending means for said extractor.

9. A hydro extractor comprising a guard, three feet with vertical hangers therein, lugs on the guard to cooperate with the hangers to thereby suspend the guard, a casting centrally of the guard and a shaft mounted in said casting, a ball on said shaft, a pin in said ball and extending beyond the outer surface thereof, a basket provided with a dome-shaped casting fitting over said ball and supported thereby, and said domeshaped casting having grooves cooperating with said pin whereby the basket is drivingly interlocked with said shaft, a pulley and brake drum on the bottom end of said shaft, and a brake to cooperate with said brake drum.

10. A hydro extractor having a cover thereon, a shaft forming a part of the extractor, a basket mounted on said shaft, means carried by said shaft and in locking engagement when thrown by centrifugal force in the co-operation with said. cover and the said means normally out of locking engagement with the cover when the shaft is idle.

11. A basket for a hydro extractor having perforated side walls, the bottom of said basket having a central opening, a casting having a lower flange, the said casting litting up within the opening and the bottom of the basket riveted to the flange of the casting, the said casting being dome shaped and provided with a socket in its u r end, the inner walls of the castin provi ed with notches, a guard for said bas et and a shaft mounted in said guard and said shaft rovided with a ball for supporting said asket and a cross bar through said ball and engaging the said notches to thereby drive the basket when said shaft is driven.

In testimony whereof I affix m si nature.

' FLETCHER S H UM.

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